American English

How to pronounce indefinitely

adverbB1
ihnDEHfuhnuhtlee

/ɪnˈdɛ.fə.nət̚.li/

5 syllables · Stress the second syllable.

For a period of time with no fixed end, or for a period whose length is not known.

What to listen for

The main stress is on the second syllable, “def”: /ɪnˈdɛ.fə.nət̚.li/. The other syllables are shorter and less prominent.

Practice out loud

Meanings & examples

adverb

For a period of time with no fixed end, or for a period whose length is not known.

The meeting was postponed indefinitely.

The museum will remain closed indefinitely.

Good to know

It does not always mean “forever”; it means that no end date has been set.

Common phrases & grammar

postponed indefinitely · delayed indefinitely · continue indefinitely · remain indefinitely

verb + indefinitely

verb + object + indefinitely

Related words & forms